Chapter 425: The First of the Ten Evils – Old Dragon God, Identity Exposed, Xixi Tries Her Best [Seeking Votes]

Clack! Clack!

Booming thunder!

Furious dragon roars!

Snow kept drifting down from the Qian Yuan, fluttering and scattering; before it could even land, a terrifying qi mechanism shredded it, turning it to dust that vanished between the misty heavens and earth!

On the Grand Canal, waves surged up to the sky!

After receiving an audience with the Dragon God Crown Prince and other dragon descendants, the Old Dragon God, surrounded by Xie Yunshen and others, entered the imperial camp.

Xie Yunshen wore a gentle, delighted smile and kept chatting with the Old Dragon God.

The Old Dragon God's gaze swept over and settled on Zhao Beidou, and with a light smile said, "Ancestor of the Longhu Divine Sect? The injury is serious; your mortal vitality is constantly leaking. Have you damaged the Disaster Wheel?"

As the Old Dragon God's words fell, Zhao Beidou's complexion instantly turned very grim.

Zhao Beidou's expression remained cold and he said nothing.

Nevertheless, the Old Dragon God rose; though aged, his towering frame exuded a magnificent aura.

"That old dragon, I'd like to see the strength of this Qian Yuan Dao City…"

The Old Dragon God spread his arms, and a terrifying sound of bones cracking rang out like thunder.

In an instant he stepped forward, vanishing from the camp and stepping onto the Grand Canal.

Then a terrifying rumbling reverberated endlessly.

"It's a good chance to inspect…"

"Our Dragon God lineage's future territory for survival."

Rumble—!!!

The tide burst, and the Old Dragon God stood at the crest, hands behind his back, stepping on the waves; on the calm surface of the Grand Canal, a hundred‑zhang high wave rose, slowly marching toward Qian Yuan Dao City.

Rolling dragon might, vast and mighty, overturning mountains and seas!

The domineering, scorching qi and blood roared, as if the heavens and earth were changing hue; a terrible calamity was brewing.

…

…

Qian Yuan Dao City.

Snowflakes kept swirling, piling a thick layer upon the city walls.

Suddenly, the fallen white snow inexplicably began to melt.

Crackle!

The snow turned to water, fell down, becoming rain!

A torrential downpour!

Pounding the city walls!

Pounding the armored guards of the divine garrison, producing a crackling sound.

Han Qizhong, as the Western Camp Grand General, now under the oversight of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect, is responsible for guarding the city towers of Qian Yuan Dao City.

At this moment, Han Qizhong pressed his helmet down, his expression exceedingly solemn.

Looking up, he saw the Grand Canal's surface winding like a great dragon, with massive rolling waves surging.

Terrifying waves crashed fiercely, slamming the moat water into a thousand layers of surging waves; the surf battered the walls, making the whole city tremble.

A great terror arrived, stepping on the waves!

Han Qizhong felt his entire body become extremely cold, as if a terrifying force had completely sealed and froze him, leaving no strength even to move a single finger.

Pressure…

Pressure beyond imagination!

Even this supreme Grandmaster was like this.

Let alone the other defenders of Qian Yuan Dao City.

Sure enough, the others also wore grim faces, many trembling in their legs.

Nevertheless, atop the city towers, the guarding army drew their weapons, confronting the impending great terror.

The Old Dragon God rode the waves, his crimson dragon armor blazing and warping like scorching flame; he surveyed Qian Yuan Dao City, his gaze rippling like a vast sun.

He also resembled an emperor, inspecting his domain.

In the future, Qian Yuan Dao City will essentially be the Dragon God clan's terrestrial habitat.

The Dragon God clan migrated from the East Sea to the land; a single Dao City… can still satisfy the clan's desires.

Moreover…

The Old Dragon God's gaze swept over the massive Qian Yuan Dao City, taking in the countless silhouettes within.

It is a city of enormous population.

It seems… it can satisfy many of his appetites.

The Old Dragon God slowly grinned, as if sharp teeth glimmered in the sunlight.

Boom—!!!

The heavens were torn open, the Qian Kun plaque surged instantly, soaring out from the mountain gate and spanning the city towers of Qian Yuan Dao City, forming a standoff.

From the plaque's small heavenly realm emerged the ancestor of the Qian Yuan Divine Sect, Lu Qiankun.

He faced the Old Dragon God.

Both were divine realm cultivators at the Disaster and Calamity stages, their clash of a man and a dragon's aura causing the heavens to change hue.

"Lao Ni Qiu, you want my Qian Yuan Divine Sect to make way for your Dragon God lineage? Then first conquer my sect!"

Lu Qiankun stepped out of the void, his brows furrowed coldly.

The Old Dragon God placed both hands behind him, his dragon horns emitting a razor‑sharp radiance; he squinted at Lu Qiankun, then laughed and stepped forward, the ten‑zhang tide beneath him exploding with a boom, countless waters shattering and vaporizing into an intensely thick mist!

And the Old Dragon God was unbelievably fierce, charging at Lu Qiankun, who stood within the small cave heaven.

He wanted to test the water of Lu Qiankun, the founder of the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

Lu Qiankun smiled, but his smile carried a hint of coldness.

The Qiankun plaque thundered and expanded, the heavens and earth split, and the Qiankun small cave heaven, like a gaping blood‑filled mouth, suddenly swallowed the Old Dragon God's figure!

The Old Dragon God showed no fear at all, rushing straight into Lu Qiankun's divine tribulation small cave heaven, and clashed with Lu Qiankun!

Boom—

The Qiankun plaque floated above the Qianyuan Dao City.

It attracted the attention and gaze of countless strongmen.

Within the Dao City.

Lu Taibai and Fang Hanshu rose, hovering; Lu Taibai's face was extremely solemn, his whole body resonated with sword qi, and he gritted his teeth.

"What a filthy old catfish, daring to be so reckless!"

Fang Hanshu stroked his fine beard and said in a deep voice: "The Dragon God clan has always prized the strength of their mortal bodies. Their bodies carry demonic bloodlines, so they fear nothing in hand‑to‑hand combat. Entering the founder's small cave heaven actually benefits this old dragon, because the cave's tribulation‑shield allows the Old Dragon God to unleash his full power…"

"As for the suppression from the founder within the small cave heaven, the slight suppression the cave brings, the Old Dragon God doesn't care at all."

On the side of the imperial army.

Gu Qianchi and Zhao Beidou looked at each other in silence.

"So reckless, so ferocious!"

"After all, this old dragon is nearing its end; such a being being brutal before death is understandable. For the sake of its race, this old Dragon God, who should have been enjoying its remaining life, had to go out fighting—it's hard on it as well."

Gu Qianchi sighed.

Zhao Beidou shook his head: "If there's blame, it can only be on the Dragon God clan's descendants for being unworthy."

Gu Qianchi's eyes were complex: "But it's not just the Dragon God clan. Our Divine Sect is the same… If we have no successors capable of bearing the cauldron, our Sect in the future will likely fragment and cannot continue."

Zhao Beidou heard this and felt a pang in his heart.

Because his disciple Zhao Chunqiu, the head of the Dragon Tiger Divine Sect, was talented but fell in battle in the previous war; after Zhao Chunqiu's death, the Dragon Tiger Divine Sect could not produce anyone capable of holding the field.

This is why Xie Yunshen promised to fight for the Dragon Tiger Divine Sect disciples' benefits before the emperor, and why Zhao Beidou was moved.

Being the helmsman of a great Divine Sect is hard.

Within the Divine Sect's mountain gate.

In the study.

Li Che's mind was focused on Xixi's condition, but he also sensed the terrifying pressure that enveloped the entire Dao City.

He withdrew a portion of his mind, and the celestial chessboard spread, instantly perceiving the Old Dragon God, riding the waves beyond the Dao City on the Grand Canal, confronting Lu Qiankun, the founder of the Qianyuan Divine Sect.

An Old Dragon God of the One Disaster Two Tribulation realm!

"How arrogant…"

Li Che sat in his chair, poured a cup of hot tea, the emerald leaves swirling and turning in the cup.

His slender five fingers clasped the cup, he took a gentle sip, and a sharp glint appeared in Li Che's eyes.

Emperor Dàjǐng agreed to let the Old Dragon God enter, to rush aid to the imperial army against the Qianyuan Dao City, and the Qianyuan Divine Sect's mountain gate was taken by Emperor Dàjǐng as a bargaining chip, traded to the Dragon God clan.

And the Old Dragon God's consent to submit to Dàjǐng also meant that the Dragon God clan would contribute the East Sea Dragon Clan's fortune, merging it into Dàjǐng's fortune.

Therefore, the Old Dragon God thought that the Qianyuan Divine Sect becoming the Dragon God clan's future tribal land was not much wrong.

However, this Old Dragon God shouldn't be arrogant for long.

Li Che's eyes flickered faintly.

His heart trembled slightly; within his chest, the 【Painting Immortal】 Dao Fruit pulsed continuously, as if ink‑colored ripples burst forth like mist.

Faintly, it seemed a scroll stretched before his eyes.

It was the Dao guide 【Ten Beast Ink‑Splash Diagram】 of the 【Painting Immortal】 Dao Fruit!

This Dao guide, up to now, has not produced even a single beast.

Because to create the Ten Beast Ink‑Splash Diagram requires demonic souls; the stronger the demonic soul, the stronger the ten beasts forged.

Originally, Li Che intended to use the Dragon God Crown Prince's demonic soul to craft the first beast of the Ten Beast Ink‑Splash Diagram, but…

With the successful forging of the Martial Gold Body and the successful conveyance of the Eighth Extraordinary Gate celestial seed…

Li Che's ambition grew ever larger!

The demonic soul position of the first beast of the Ten Beast Ink‑Splash Diagram…

was prepared for this Old Dragon God.

However, an Old Dragon God of the One Disaster Two Tribulation realm is inevitably immensely powerful; if it fully unleashes, it would be far stronger than Zhao Beidou.

Thus, even if Li Che's own combat power has greatly increased.

Nevertheless, one must still not take this Old Dragon God lightly.

Even with the Dragon God Crown Prince ready to backstab at any moment, Li Che felt it was insufficient and needed even safer measures.

Sitting on the chair in the study.

Li Che seemed to have thought of something.

With a flick of his finger, a captive spirit chess piece instantly turned into black lightning, twisting and swelling.

Gradually, it transformed into the form of Gu Changqing, the head of the Heavenly Elixir Divine Sect.

Gu Changqing, busy refining elixirs, had his alchemical saint‑hand robe fluttering.

"Lord!"

Gu Changqing clasped his fists, extremely respectful.

Li Che thought for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping the chair, recalling how he first met Liu Qing, the top hero of the Heavenly Elixir Divine Sect, at the Peach Banquet.

That Liu Qing… wielded a superb poison, leaving a deep impression on Li Che.

Even there is Heaven Dan poison.

That thing… Li Che seems to have casually taken it.

However, the Heaven Dan poison that Liu Qing possesses might be useful against a Martial Saint, but for a powerhouse like the Old Dragon God, it probably won't have much effect.

"Heaven Dan poison?"

Gu Changqing, as Detained God, was bewildered.

Lord, you really aren't a hero at all!

He likes it!

Poison, for a Pill‑Refining Master, is naturally no difficulty.

"If you want a poison that can corrupt a Divine Tribulation Great Refinement… yes, I can forge it, but the required materials are extremely stringent, and… the chance of failure is huge; if it fails, I will be poisoned to death."

Gu Changqing said gravely.

Li Che heard this, his expression instantly turned odd: "No problem, test it many times; the more poisonous the better. If you get poisoned to death, you can still live."

Gu Changqing was startled, awkwardly scratched his head, thinking, yes, as Detained God now, dying can still bring life…

Then the sole taboo in forging poison disappears!

What is there to fear then?

Let's get started!

"I can attempt to forge the Sanqing Divine Poison Pill 【Nine‑turn Ascending Dragon Pill】 passed down from the Patriarch of the Heaven Dan Sect…"

Gu Changqing squinted, his eagerness bubbling in his eyes.

For every Pill Refiner, forging poison… is also a challenge.

The former Gu Changqing dared not forge poison pills of the Sanqing rank, but now it's different.

Now he isn't afraid of being poisoned to death during refinement; then… he refines to death!

"What materials are needed?"

Li Che asked.

Gu Changqing, without hesitation, immediately brushed his brush and wrote out the required poison‑pill materials.

Li Che glanced over, put it away, and his gaze turned to Gu Changqing.

"By the way, is the Ascending Immortal Pill something your Heaven Dan Sect crafts?"

Li Che asked.

Xixi's problem on Guangling Dao, as a father he is naturally very concerned.

He says he's comfortable with his daughter's trials, but in fact Li Che watches almost constantly.

Gu Changqing was taken aback; though puzzled why Li Che knew about the Ascending Immortal Pill, he immediately began to explain.

"The Ascending Immortal Pill… is also a kind of poison pill, mildly toxic… after crushing it, a specially forged divine weapon absorbs it, granting the primordial spirit a brief relief; it is the most potent wealth‑collecting poison pill of our Heaven Dan Sect."

Gu Changqing said awkwardly.

"Wealth‑collecting? Your Heaven Dan Sect… hasn't earned enough? You've practically monopolized most of Dàjǐng's pill business," Li Che couldn't help but frown.

Gu Changqing shook his head: "Not enough. Our Heaven Dan Sect actually has two Patriarchs; one of them is… at an extremely high realm, requiring massive resources. The wealth our sect collects is all converted to supply that Patriarch's resources…"

Hmm?!

Li Che's eyes narrowed: "Your Heaven Dan Sect… has two Patriarchs?!"

"Yes, Lord, the Heaven Dan Sect has a secret unknown to all: it has two Patriarchs. One is the publicly known Patriarch, Yang Xuan Ancestor… and the other is Yin Xuan Ancestor, who specializes in forging poison pills!"

Gu Changqing revealed this earth‑shattering secret.

"Three thousand years ago, under the joint effort of the two Yin‑Yang Ancestors, they founded a sect and established the Heaven Poison Dan Sect; at that time, the world's many Dan sects renowned for pill refining…"

"Later, most Dan sect Patriarchs were poisoned to death by Yin Xuan Ancestor during repeated challenges…"

"Yin Xuan Ancestor's reputation became foul… he faked his death, wandering the hidden valleys for years, daring not to appear in the world."

Li Che heard this, his mouth twitched.

Gu Changqing's tone grew eager: "Yin Xuan Ancestor's poison that pervades all Dan sect Patriarchs' poison pills is the Heaven Poison Dan 【Nine‑turn Ascending Dragon Pill】!"

"That ancient Yin Xuan Ancestor was a natural genius, unrivaled in Dan Dao; it is said that at twenty he could forge the Four Sovereign Heaven Dan… but Yin Xuan Ancestor loves studying poison pills."

"This Nine‑turn Ascending Dragon Pill is Yin Xuan Ancestor's signature poison pill!"

Li Che heard this, his eyes slightly brightened.

This ancient Yin Xuan… is a talent!

He should enter the Underworld!

Gu Changqing felt a bit ashamed: "My refining skill is ordinary, merely at the level of a common Pill Master; compared to a half‑immortal refiner like ancient Yin Xuan Ancestor, it's a different tier, like a mayfly seeing the blue sky!"

"Yin Xuan Ancestor can forge the Nine‑turn Ascending Dragon Pill with a single life, whereas I… would probably need several lives to succeed."

Li Che heard this and could only offer a few words of comfort.

Gu Changqing took his leave, continuing to refine martial pills, while Li Che summoned a Painting Immortal avatar, handed the poison‑pill material list to it, and sent it to hastily seek Fang Hanshu.

"Indeed… those who can reach the Divine Tribulation Realm are talents, whether it's the Old Dragon God who matches the Ten Fiends Ink Splash Diagram, or this poison‑pill half‑immortal Yin Xuan Ancestor…"

Li Che leaned back in his chair, sipping a long draught of hot tea, his thoughts stirred—a yearning for talent.

His Detained God army indeed needs a multitude of talents.

Just as Li Che thought, above the saints of each major profession there are higher realms.

Half‑immortal realm…

Li Che squinted, slowly savoring his hot tea, while his Martial Realm continuously rose under the powerful effect of the martial pills he swallowed.

The distance to the summit of the Mount of Martial Path grew ever nearer, ever nearer!

Li Che's eyes glimmered faintly.

When the Martial Path finally steps onto the mountain peak, officially entering the Fourfold Martial Path…

It was when Li Che made a move against Zhao Beidou, this severely injured Divine Tribulation grandmaster.

His mind stirred slightly, and his expression suddenly became solemn.

Li Che, who had been lazy, suddenly sat up straight.

It was only because, on the heaven-and-earth chessboard, an image intertwined and appeared.

That was the image of his daughter Xixi transforming into a Little Ox Demon.

……

……

Crack—crack—

Black clouds piled up in the firmament.

Then continuously drifting down.

Xixi put on a pink Little Ox Demon mask, which she herself had carved; even earlier, when her father had promised her that after she turned seven he would bypass her to go train, at that time.

She then began preparing, learned to carve, and carved the Little Ox Demon mask.

She wanted to be a hero who punishes evil and promotes good, just like Master Niu Niu!

The influence of the Ox Demon on Xixi began from Fēiléichéng; at that time, the Ox Demon emerged out of nowhere, specifically killing the Spirit Infant Sect's followers in Fēiléichéng, and upon reaching Golden Light Prefecture City, it specifically killed the evil people of the Corpse God Sect……

Xixi only felt that Master Niu Niu was the greatest hero in the world!

Unlike her honest and dutiful father, although Xixi also liked her honest and dutiful father, she felt that Master Niu Niu's method of striking evil with heavy fists was what excited her the most!

Xixi took Master Niu Niu as her goal!

So, now, as she wanders the jianghu, Xixi the Great Emperor wants to become a Little Ox Demon heroine!

Sleeping Dragon Elephant deployed, Xixi's breath restrained, her whole body walked close to the wall.

The Ox Demon Master had given her specialized training, so Xixi's breath concealment and infiltration were executed perfectly.

Inside the Ascension Immortal Pavilion, it was much larger than Xixi had imagined.

The sound of Xixi's heartbeat was almost completely restrained; she seemed to merge into the shadows, walking leisurely.

Various sounds howled and wailed.

Some people had tears and snot streaming down, crying and wanting to beg for another Ascension Immortal Pill.

Others numbly leaned on the railings, their faces full of enjoyment with each breath.

A rich aroma wafted through the pavilion adorned with red lights and green wine.

Beneath Xixi's Little Ox Demon mask, her brows slightly furrowed.

To seven-year-old her, such a scene was truly too shocking!

Xixi did not like such a scene.

She saw the man who had just sold his daughter, leaning on the railing, savoring the three Ascension Immortal Pills he had obtained in exchange for his daughter……

Trash!

Xixi cursed angrily in her heart.

They forcibly restrained the urge to unleash a Spirit Wood Ferry Crow at this man.

Xixi searched around, then sneaked into the large courtyard behind the Ascension Immortal Pavilion.

She quickly found where the little girls sold by their relatives were imprisoned.

She flipped her body, leapt inside the courtyard wall, and stood pressed against the wall.

Xixi looked up, her brain buzzed, and in an instant it seemed to lose all color.

The pungent smell of blood kept wafting up.

Yet within the courtyard stood a dilapidated temple.

Based on the divine fluctuations sensed, it should be a Seven-Element Guiyi Miao!

There actually stands a Guiyi Miao in the rear courtyard of the Ascension Immortal Pavilion!

Before that Guiyi Miao, thin ghostly mist roiled, with alchemy furnaces lined up, looking extremely ferocious; after those little girls were captured, their spinal vertebrae, unknown what technique was applied, grew wildly like poisonous snakes, piercing into a nearby furnace.

At the other end of the furnace, metal pipes extended, spreading into the Guiyi Miao.

Several little girls' spines were connected to a furnace; the furnace fire flickered, showing an alchemist in tattered alchemist robes busily throwing medicinal ingredients into it.

Each of those little girls had lost consciousness, their bodies twitching, blood drawn from their scarlet spines and sent into the furnace.

With a boom, the firelight flared violently.

Black vapor rolled out.

The tattered alchemist furrowed his brows: "This batch of medicinal herbs isn't good enough…… the essence-blood is too poor."

"The temple deity…… seems not satisfied."

He shook his head.

The alchemist stretched, stood up, and from the backyard cage snatched out a trembling, conscious little girl.

It was precisely the little girl Lian that Xixi had seen earlier, sold by a man.

The alchemist seized Lian and walked to a furnace; there, a little girl had already been turned into a desiccated corpse, skin clinging to bone.

After being dragged down by the alchemist, she was thrown like trash into a deep pit in the corner, where piles of dry corpses and bones were already stacked.

Lian trembled with fear, tears streaming, struggling and screaming.

However, the alchemist practiced lifted his hand, with a click, dislocated Lian's jaw, and her scream vanished.

"Little treasure, feel fear, feel pain…… only with enough fear and despair can the ascension elixir refined be of high grade, satisfying the temple deity."

The alchemist gave a hehe laugh.

He formed a seal with his hand, struck it at Lian's neck, and with a hook of his five fingers sought to pull out her spine.

And during the process of pulling out her spine, Lian's eyes rolled upward, showing the whites, her body went rigid and twitched.

Hehehe...

The alchemist's favorite part is this step.

Ah—I can't bear it anymore!

Suddenly.

In the courtyard, a sound of gnashing teeth rang out.

Huh?

The alchemist's smile froze instantly.

Who?!

An angry shout.

However, just as his hand stopped moving, he saw in the darkness a figure wearing a pink calf mask, no taller than 1.3 meters, shouldering a colossal mechanism with six metal tubes emitting scorching light.

It was aimed at him from afar!

Who are you?!

The alchemist was both shocked and furious.

How could someone sneak into his courtyard?!

Someone come!!!

He opened his mouth and roared angrily.

However…

Just as his roar faded, the figure wearing the small calf mask suddenly activated the mechanism.

The six metal tubes spun wildly!

Zzzzzz——!!!

Countless golden and fiery lights burst forth!

The resplendent, extreme golden firelight seemed to purify the filth between heaven and earth!

As if a true Buddha pitying the world let out a lament in the mortal realm.

Boom after boom!

Send them to the afterlife!

The alchemist screamed as he unleashed a divine foundation, but in an instant he was blasted to pieces, his flesh turning directly into minced meat!

Xixi's eyes were filled with anger.

The scene in the courtyard truly shocked her young mind!

How can the world hold such horrendous sin!

Before, under Li Che's protection, she hadn't experienced much; in Fēiléichéng she had encountered a bit, but after arriving at Jinguang Prefecture and Qianyuan Dao City, Xixi was basically well protected, never having faced any injustice or grievance.

And now, Xixi's spirit trembled, as if an ancient divine bell had been struck!

Die!

Xixi gritted her teeth and smashed the alchemist's corpse to pieces.

The girl Xiao Lian lost the alchemist's control and returned to her normal appearance.

Come with me!

Under Xixi's feet, the Golden Light Wheel of the Blazing Lotus Prison blossomed, sparks flying, spinning at high speed, rushing toward the little girl Xiao Lian.

But in this process, from the distant cage, cries of wailing suddenly erupted.

Save us, save us……

They were girls sold by their own relatives.

Seven-year-old Xixi suddenly felt a bit at a loss, a bit helpless.

Who should she save?!

And just in that moment of Xixi's hesitation…

Inside the Dengxian Pavilion, a terrifyingly extreme rebuke suddenly rang out.

Impudent!

A furious shout rolled like waves!

It was a……

A Martial Saint!

Although it was only a first-stage Martial Saint!

But the mighty heaven-man resonance formed a martial will pressure that almost fell like a blanket over the sky and earth.

The entire courtyard was instantly shrouded!

Xixi's eyes beneath the calf mask twitched slightly.

She looked at the dozen or so girls imprisoned in the cage, then at Xiao Lian's stiff body collapsed on the ground……

Xixi gritted her teeth; beneath her feet, the Golden Light Wheel of the Blazing Lotus Prison clanged, sparks exploding!

Xixi was a bit greedy; she wanted to save more people!

She wanted to help them escape the sea of suffering!

However…

Just as Xixi turned and rushed toward the cage, from within the Guiyi Miao a spear‑sharp worm claw shot out like a lance, flying fast to pierce her skull.

A terrifying divine pressure unique to the temple god crushed down heavily!

Ah!

Stupid temple god!

Xixi shouted angrily, her plump five fingers spread, and she lunged at the insect claw, her tendons and bones all resonating, actually pulling the insect claw's true form out.

Boom—!!!

The Guiyi Miao's portal exploded!

Then a ferociously snarling thousand‑eyed centipede, exuding surging demonic aura, crawled out of the Guiyi Miao at high speed, wildly ferocious, roaring and howling!

The temple deity's awe slammed down in a wild, slanting crush!

Xixi's heart startled.

But, in the emergency, she immediately gave up rescuing the many girls in the cage and rushed toward the rigid little lotus.

However…

A towering figure, enveloped in an immensely powerful surge of Qi and blood, crashed down with a roar!

Qi and blood surged like waves, the martial will pressing like a mountain; Xixi felt the circulation of her Qi and blood inside becoming extremely difficult.

It was…

Martial Saint!

Xixi's eyes instantly turned red!

She seemed…

No one can be saved!

Beneath the pink calf mask, Xixi clenched her teeth.

In her right hand, the Divine‑Striking Golden Brick trembled violently, its invisible ripples spreading, helping her shatter the Martial Saint's martial‑will pressure completely.

Xixi clenched her five fingers, and from her left hand countless violet flames spewed out.

Gradually in her hand, they coalesced into a violet‑flame serpent‑spear, a fiery‑tip spear.

Whistling, the violet‑flame serpent‑spear boldly thrust toward the deity descending from the heavens, at ultimate speed!

The air tore open, twisting endlessly!

The airflow whistled, the pressure wave cleared the void!

"Hm? Prison‑Lotus Wind‑Fire Golden Light Wheel… violet‑flame serpent‑spear?!"

"You are…"

"Young Sect Leader of Qian Yuan, Li Nuanxi?!"

The towering Martial Saint instantly recognized Xixi's identity, and Xixi glanced at the Martial Saint, seeming to recognize him as well.

It seemed…

This Martial Saint had once gone to Qian Yuan Dao City, taken part in the Two‑Heart Great Saint's Guiyi Miao trial, and competed with his father for the Free‑willed Golden Iron Divine Staff!

Gu Chuan, the Martial Saint of the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect, narrowed his eyes; having been to Qian Yuan Dao City, he recognized the identity of the person before him wearing the little calf mask.

His eyes narrowed, a flash of fervor and excitement flickering within!

The Martial Saint spread his five fingers, each like a spear, thrusting outward.

They collided with the spear Xixi had thrust.

A massive force, like a mountain‑moving sea‑rushing impact.

However, even at the Divine‑General Grandmaster realm, Xixi could not block this strike; without employing the Black‑White Extreme Collapse Avalanche Guanyin Lotus Bomb, nor cultivating mushrooms, there was still a gap between Xixi and the Martial Saint.

The instant Xixi was slammed away by the Martial Saint's overwhelming Qi and blood.

She glanced at the little lotus that Gu Chuan had kicked far away, her eyes full of resentment.

Xixi's five fingers clenched, and the Flying Thunder Chess Piece projectile was suddenly grasped.

She vanished entirely.

"Stay!"

Gu Chuan roared in fury.

His five fingers reached out again, tearing the air as if forming a gust‑bound cage.

However…

Xixi's form remained vanished.

Within the courtyard, the scent of blood interwove and spread.

Gu Chuan's towering body, his Qi and blood coiled like a flood‑dragon, his eyes blazing.

"Young Sect Leader of Qian Yuan Divine Sect, Li Nuanxi… she actually appeared in Guangling Dao City?"

"It seems… the court's siege on the Qian Yuan Divine Sect has left the sect without hope, planning to leave a seed of inheritance?"

A flash of intense heat appeared on Gu Chuan's face.

That girl…

Her talent is extraordinary, and she has become the champion of the court's Peach Banquet and the Young Dragon Tournament!

A top‑tier human medicine!

Gu Chuan surged skyward in an instant, his powerful martial will rumbling outward, beginning to search for Xixi's trail.

……

……

Outside Guangling Dao City.

Snow swirled wildly.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—

On the snowfield, three ravines were instantly torn.

Three figures wearing animal masks sped toward them.

They wore snow‑wolf, jade‑rabbit, and pig‑head masks respectively…

Yun'e hugged the white rabbit, gasping heavily, hot breath escaping from under her mask, she ran nonstop.

Finally, beneath the big tree where the Flying Thunder chess piece had been buried before Xixi, she saw Xixi's small figure.

However, Xixi was leaning against the tree trunk.

In her hand she pinched a pink little calf mask.

Both hands hugging her legs, head buried between her legs, her whole body shaking with uncontrollable sobs.

When Yun'e arrived, she slowly squatted down.

Her eyes full of pity, her gentle voice softly echoed, lightly patting Xixi's back.

"Xixi..."

However, Xixi slowly lifted her head.

On her immature face that had not yet faded, were streaks of intersecting tears.

Upon seeing Yun'e, she let out a "waa" and could no longer hold back her sorrowful crying.

"Wuu wuu wuu—"

"Yun'e elder sister... Xi... Xixi did her best, but couldn't save them."